Air Force to Eliminate Civilian Fitness Jobs

The Air Force is eliminating the jobs of around 300 civilian fitness testers in an effort to save money. The cuts are part of a larger cost-saving exercise that will see at least 13,500 civilian jobs terminated in the next year, according to a story in the Air Force Times.

The Air Force hired the civilian fitness assessors to staff the fitness assessment cells (FACs) it created as part of the implementation of its new fitness standards in June 2010. The civilian positions were intended to reduce administrative burdens on squadrons and to guarantee impartiality of fitness testing.

Following the elimination of the civilian employees, the administration of the Air Force’s bi-annual physical fitness tests now will return to the branch’s physical training leaders.

The Air Force has not yet named a date for the termination of the civilian employees. Due to a hiring freeze that began in August, enlisted trainers already have taken over the physical testing process on several bases.